Pyropia columbiensis S.C. Lindstrom, 2015

Lindstrom, Sandra C., Hughey, Jeffery R. & Rosas, Luis E. Aguilar, 2015, Four new species of Pyropia (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) from the west coast of North America: the Pyropia lanceolata species complex updated, PhytoKeys 52, pp. 1-22 : 5

Pyropia columbiensis S.C. Lindstrom sp. nov. Fig. 3

Description.

Thalli lanceolate when young, becoming somewhat ovate (rarely obovate) when mature; base cuneate, becoming umbilicate; 50-115 mm thick; males to at least 5.5 cm wide and more than 31 cm long; females to 12 cm wide and more than 28 cm long, but thalli mostly narrower; color uniform throughout the thallus except for reproductive areas, olive-green when fresh, drying to grayish or brownish purple. Thalli dioecious. Spermatangia in packets of 2-4 × 2-4 × 8. Mature zygotosporangia in packets of 2-4 × 2-4 × 2-4. Habitat: mid to high intertidal rock, usually associated with sand. Phenology: winter to early spring (a few thalli may persist as late as mid summer). Distinguished from other species of Pyropia by unique rbc L and 18S rRNA gene sequences.

Holotype.

Saxicolous in the upper mid intertidal on rocks partially buried in sand at the south end of West Beach, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada (51°39.14'N 128°08.42'W), S.C. Lindstrom 15596, 18 Feb 2014, UBC A90636. GenBank sequences KP903995, KP903996 (rbc L), KP903910 (SSU).

Isotypes.

SCL 15594 (UC 2050591), SCL 15599 (UBC A90637), SCL 15600 & 15601 (UBC A90638).

Etymology.

This species is named for the biogeographic region in which it is found, using the terminology of Valentine (1966), but with a modification of the boundaries to extend from Cape Mendocino, California, to the central coast of British Columbia. It also commemorates the centenary of the University of British Columbia herbarium, which was established in early 1916.

Distribution.

Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada, to Cape Mendocino, California, USA.

Pyropia montereyensis and Pyropia columbiensis are essentially morphologically identical and represent the southern and northern species of a vicariant pair, respectively.

Figures

Figure 3. Holotype of Pyropia columbiensis. South end of West Beach, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada, S. C. Lindstrom 15596, 18 Feb 2014, UBC A 90636.